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A tribute to Madden was proven on Las Vegas Raiders house Allegiant Stadium. Photograph: Ethan Miller / Workers (Getty Pictures)Legendary coach and broadcaster John Madden died Tuesday morning, the NFL introduced. For followers, nobody is extra synonymous with soccer than Madden, and maybe nobody individual has completed extra to deliver new individuals into the sport.“On behalf of the complete NFL household, we lengthen our condolences to Virginia, Mike, Joe and their households,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell mentioned in an official assertion. “Everyone knows him because the Corridor of Fame coach of the Oakland Raiders and broadcaster who labored for each main community, however greater than something, he was a faithful husband, father and grandfather.“No one cherished soccer greater than Coach. He was soccer. He was an unimaginable sounding board to me and so many others. There’ll by no means be one other John Madden, and we are going to endlessly be indebted to him for all he did to make soccer and the NFL what it’s right this moment.”A late draft choose, Madden’s NFL stint was set to start out in 1958 with the Philadelphia Eagles, however a career-ending knee harm sidelined him earlier than his skilled gridiron days began. Madden moved into teaching, starting at a neighborhood faculty. He ended up in Oakland, bringing house a Lombardi Trophy and turning into the winningest coach in Raiders historical past. Madden had secured his spot as one of many best coaches of his period earlier than stepping all the way down to turn out to be a broadcaster. On TV, Madden excelled as properly, turning into one of the memorable and gratifying shade commenters. He gained 16 Emmy Awards earlier than retiring in 2008.As a child, after all I keep in mind him from Monday Evening Soccer, however Madden was this bigger than life determine. He’d pop up in ironmongery store advertisements and beer commercials. You’d spot him in random music movies or on The Simpsons. He was this jovial character of Americana who was afraid of flying however cherished soccer dearly. For me and plenty of others, his best cultural achievement was Madden NFL. I didn’t play 1988’s John Madden Soccer, however keep in mind seeing the field artwork in outlets, that includes Madden bursting by a chalkboard, soccer in hand, with an enormous grin on his face. I did purchase John Madden Soccer two years in a while the Genesis. In comparison with each different soccer recreation—heck, in comparison with each different sports activities recreation I had performed on the time, it was a revelation. The Madden video games not solely featured his voice and likeness, however they oozed his persona. But, the enchantment was greater than that: It’s vital that the debut recreation’s field artwork confirmed Madden breaking by a chalkboard lined with performs. As amusing as I discovered the ambulance driving on the sphere, these video games had been about studying to execute technique and techniques. They struck on the very core of soccer. A Tremendous Bowl win will help construct a franchise or set up a dynasty. Energetic shade commentary offers perception within the recreation and turns into soundbites for spotlight reels. It’s exhausting to measure the impression of Madden NFL. The video games turned a manner for individuals not solely to play a digital model of soccer, however develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the sport. I’m from the technology grew up on Madden—however now, it looks as if each technology does. Even for those who by no means noticed him coach or broadcast, for those who’ve ever performed a soccer online game, you’ve been impacted by John Madden. And for that, we thank him.
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